the author
Posted on 03/04/2014 8:16:04 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Even a week ago, the idea of a Russian military intervention in Ukraine seemed far-fetched if not totally alarmist. The risks involved were just too enormous for President Vladimir Putin and for the country he has ruled for 14 years. But the arrival of Russian troops in Crimea over the weekend has shown that he is not averse to reckless adventures, even ones that offer little gain.
In the coming days and weeks, Putin will have to decide how far he is prepared to take this intervention and how much he is prepared to suffer for it. It is already clear, however, that he cannot emerge as the winner of this conflict, at least not when the damage is weighed against the gains. It will at best be a Pyrrhic victory, and at worst an utter catastrophe. Here’s why:
At home, this intervention looks to be one of the most unpopular decisions Putin has ever made. The Kremlin’s own pollster released a survey on Monday that showed 73% of Russians reject it. In phrasing its question posed in early February to 1,600 respondents across the country, the state-funded sociologists at WCIOM were clearly trying to get as much support for the intervention as possible: “Should Russia react to the overthrow of the legally elected authorities in Ukraine?” they asked. Only 15% said yes — hardly a national consensus.
That seems astounding in light of all the brainwashing Russians have faced on the issue of Ukraine. For weeks, the Kremlin’s effective monopoly on television news has been sounding the alarm over Ukraine. Its revolution, they claimed, is the result of an American alliance with Nazis intended to weaken Russia. And still, nearly three-quarters of the population oppose a Russian “reaction” of any kind, let alone a Russian military occupation
(Excerpt) Read more at world.time.com ...
TIME Magazine to the rescue (of Obama).
Delusional.
He has nothing to lose by keeping Crimea, and nothing to gain by giving it up.
He’s keeping it.
Time. The propaganda arm of the FSB, since before it was the KGB, or even the NKVD...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZolXrjGIBJs
In a report on the Kremlin-funded Russia Today television station, Abby Martin said she “wanted to say something from my heart about the ongoing political crisis in Ukraine and Russia’s military occupation of Crimea”.
Ironic for Time to bring up brainwashing.
For weeks, the Kremlin’s effective monopoly on television news has been sounding the alarm over Ukraine.
Said without a trace of irony.
Our job is to make acquiring Crimea so expensive that they will be discouraged from further expansion.
There is no TIME magazine is there? Isn’t it only online now?
RE: There is no TIME magazine is there? Isn’t it only online now?
Sorry to inform you — THERE IS. Our office subscribes to it.
A warm water port is of great strategic importance to Russia.
If he were to give that up his own people would likely turn on him.
I’ve been seeing a real coordinated media campaign to save the Gay Media Messiah’s image this morning, from articles last night by Obama sycophants Micheal Cohen and Donna Brazile, to a sudden surge of internet “postings” praising Obama’s “BRILLIANCE!” at handling the situation.
Even the bot-controlled fake twitter profiles are in on it.
it still exists... i see it at the check-out in the supermarket...
Is Time so naive that it believes that the Kremlin will change its policies to suit an opinion poll?
WHY???
“Our job is to make acquiring Crimea so expensive that they will be discouraged from further expansion. “
Our only job is to stay out of this mess.
You’re confusing Time with Newsweak.
the author
Not interested in American propaganda.
No legitimate excuses for this aggression: They already have a well developed port on Black Sea. The only reason for invasion is to keep Ukraine in it’s orbit of corruption. After the invasion is over, there is no doubt that Ukraine will join NATO. If there was a toss-up among public - all doubts removed now.
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